At this time, Zhao Ziliang's impression of Western Europe was that of ancient times and wilderness, especially in Bavaria and the places where the Saxons were infested.
There were mountains, rivers and black forests everywhere.
The towering trees and dense forests that blocked the sky almost made many places Unable to see distant scenes.
As the heavy snow falls in the cold winter, the black forest is covered with thick snow, and the branches are covered with ice hooks.
When the temperature rises slightly, the forest is filled with white mist, making it difficult to tell the difference between east, west and north.
Carrying a compass with them, Zhao Ziliang and others even suspected that they might get lost in the endless forests and mountains at any time.
Grold, the supreme ruler of Bavaria, sent a team of soldiers to Zhao Ziliang and his party to escort them to Aachen, the capital of the Frankish Kingdom.
The general leading the team was called Little Charlie.
Why was he called Little Charlie because his father was Charlemagne?
king.
In Europe, it is common for a father and his son to have the same name, as well as the same name across generations.
This is not unusual.
Charlemagne had four sons, namely Pepin the Hunchback, Pepin the Italian, little Charles and Louis.
This little Charlie was the third son of King Charles.
Zhao Ziliang looked at the dark forests on the left and right covered with heavy snow and asked: "Little General Charlie, coming here makes me feel like I have returned to ancient times.
Will there be savages in this dark forest?"
Little Charlie is a young man in his twenties.
He is very energetic and talkative.
"Your Excellency, although we have not ruled Bavaria for a long time, we have eliminated all the rebels in Bavaria.
There will be nothing here."
The enemy can harm you.
The savages you are talking about are in the northwest far away from here, where the Saxon barbarians gather.
At present, they have been driven further north by us."
Zhao Ziliang nodded and said: "This puts me at ease.
How far are we from Aachen, the capital of your country?"
Little Charlie said: "Your Majesty, according to the current weather and road conditions, we may not be able to reach the city of Aachen until the beginning of next spring.
After two days of walking, we can reach Munich, the land of monks in Bavaria.
There are many churches there.
There are many monks living there and it is also the residence of many Bavarians.
We can rest there for a few days and wait for the weather to improve a little before setting off."
Zhao Ziliang sighed: "Well, the snow is really heavy.
I'm afraid you can't do anything in this kind of winter."
Little Charlie smiled and said: "You are right, we Franks usually prepare the food, wood, fodder and other things for the winter before winter begins.
In weather like this, we usually don't go far.
Because it’s easy to freeze to death on the road, if you hadn’t repeatedly requested it, we would have let you spend the winter in Vinia and then sent someone to escort you and your delegation to Aachen.”
Zhao Ziliang stretched out his hand to shake the snowflakes on his cloak and asked: "Little General Charlie, I heard General Grold said that you are your father's most beloved son.
Why would he send you to guard the border in Vinia?
You must know the living conditions in Vinia.
It’s very bad, and there is always the danger of being attacked by barbarians.
Isn’t he worried about your safety?”
Little Charlie smiled and said: "Your Excellency, my father loves each of our brothers and sisters very much.
The reason why I am in Vinia is because I asked for it.
I hope to be as good at commanding military operations as my father.
He has made great military exploits for the kingdom, just like my second brother, who was appointed king of Italy by my father, suppressing rebellions and handling military and political affairs in Italy."
Zhao Ziliang nodded: "Seeing you, I believe your father must be a wise, courageous, and good at fighting hero."
Free novels bring you joy and joy ---> storyskyline.net
Little Charlie was very happy that Zhao Ziliang complimented his father and said: "Yes, my father is indeed the hero of all our Franks."
Zhao Ziliang found it strange that on their way to Aachen, they spent every time in a monastery or church along the way.
Almost wherever there are human beings, there are churches or monasteries.
This made Zhao Ziliang and his entourage They all feel incredible that the influence of the church has penetrated deeply into everyone's heart.
On February 18, 790 AD, Zhao Ziliang and his party finally arrived at Aachen, the capital of the Frankish Kingdom, led by the Frankish soldiers under the escort of Little Charles.
As the first envoy to the Frankish Kingdom to formally serve as a diplomatic envoy from the great Eastern country of Western Qin, Zhao Ziliang and his party received the highest standards of treatment.
They were arranged to stay at the most famous Allison Spring Hotel in Aachen. .
Aachen is a veritable hot spring city with a large number of hot springs.
King Charles was born here.
The reason why he designated this city as the capital of the Frankish Kingdom is probably because he was born here.
There are many hot springs here.
"Your Majesty the Envoy, this hot spring hotel has been booked by the royal palace.
You will stay here during your stay in Aachen.
I am the king's attendant Knight Oliver.
From now on, I will be responsible for the safety of the envoy.
If you or your envoy If the regiment members and followers want to go out, please report to me, and I will send soldiers to accompany you for protection."
The tall and sturdy knight said to Zhao Ziliang holding a sword.
Avar guide Gu Lun whispered in Zhao Ziliang's ear: "Oliver is one of King Charlie's right-hand men and one of King Charlie's most trusted knights.
The other is Roland."
It can be seen from the fact that Charlie sent Oliver to take charge of the security of the mission that Charlie attaches great importance to this mission.
On the one hand, it is of course to protect the safety of Zhao Ziliang and others in the Frankish Kingdom.
For surveillance.
After hearing this, Zhao Ziliang said: "It's okay to report, but it's not necessary to ask the knight to send troops to accompany him for protection.
Isn't the security in the capital of the Frankish Kingdom very bad?"
Oliver said with a straight face: "Your Excellency, of course no one in Aachen will maliciously attack you and the rest of the mission, but when you come into contact with other subordinates, there will inevitably be misunderstandings between you and the mission.
Anyone in is our flange Distinguished guests of the Kingdom of Frank, I must ensure that you and your subordinates will not be harmed in any way while in the Kingdom of Frank.
You know that this will damage the reputation of our Franks for hospitality.
I hope you will not make it difficult for me.
I promise not to disturb you and your family as much as possible.
Your subordinates" As expected of being one of the twelve knights who followed Charlie to conquer the world, this Oliver was really an insufferable guy.
Zhao Zi groaned in his conscience and could only agree: "Then it will cause trouble for Knight Oliver."
Oliver then pointed to a thin young man wearing a heather gray robe next to him and said: "His name is Einhard.
He is responsible for the contact between your mission and our country's officials.
He is also responsible for all the life matters of your mission here.
You If you have any problems with your subordinates, you can come to him.”
The young man put his hands on his chest and bowed to Zhao Ziliang and said: "Dear envoy of the Western Qin State, I am the court scholar Einhard.
I am very happy to meet you and serve you and your subordinates."
Zhao Ziliang looked strange and asked: "Einhard, have you received any special etiquette education?"
Before Einhard could speak, Oliver introduced with a smile: "Einhard was recommended to the royal palace by Baugurfus, the abbot of the Fulda monastery.
It is said that he systematically accepted grammar, rhetoric, etc. during his studies at the monastery. , debate, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, He has excellent academic performance in music and other fields.
He came to Aachen last year.
His Majesty the King highly praised his talent.
If His Excellency the Envoy and his subordinates are interested in these aspects, maybe you can.
Maybe we can become friends."
Zhao Ziliang also heard that Charles attached great importance to academic and educational undertakings, and recruited many well-known scholars and various literati from all over Europe, and asked them to organize some academic groups in the palace to discuss various learnings.
Free novels bring you joy and joy ---> storyskyline.net
At the same time, he also ordered churches and monasteries to run schools, undertake the task of systematically cultivating aristocratic children and training clergy, and took the lead and promoted cultural learning among the aristocratic ministers in power.
After a series of efforts, the so-called "Carolingian Renaissance" was formed during the Charlemagne period.
Zhao Ziliang was quite surprised that one person could understand so many subjects.
This was not a simple thing.
He asked: "Mr.
Einhard, do you understand Chinese?"
Einhard said rather "shyly": "I know a little bit, but I'm not very proficient."
Zhao Ziliang said happily: "Then we can communicate in Chinese.
When I meet with King Charles, other members of the royal family or officials of your country, you can act as an interpreter for us."
Einhard said: "Of course, I am happy to do so.
This is also my responsibility."
On the fifth day after Zhao Ziliang and others stayed at the Allison Spring Hotel, Einhard came to Zhao Ziliang happily and said: "Your Excellency, the envoy, His Majesty the King has sent someone to ask you to come to the palace for an audience."
Zhao Ziliang frowned and said, "Now?"
"Oh, of course not.
You are an envoy from the Western Qin Kingdom and a distinguished guest.
Of course His Majesty the King will not meet you so hastily.
He must send someone to prepare and give you enough time to prepare.
It's ten o'clock tomorrow morning, tomorrow morning At eight o'clock, I will come over to explain to you the etiquette and precautions for meeting His Majesty the King.
At nine o'clock, we will set off for the palace on time and arrive at the palace at about half past nine.
In order to ensure that there are no mistakes during the audience, I will tell you the etiquette again.
I will take you to the palace later.”
Zhao Ziliang sighed: "I thought our Tang Empire was the country that paid the most attention to etiquette.
I didn't expect that there was a country in the far west that would pay so much attention to etiquette.
This surprised me.
I don't know whether your etiquette comes from ancient inheritance or from Made with reference to the etiquette of other countries.”
Einhard had some embarrassment on his face.
Zhao Ziliang's words were simply exposing the shortcomings of the Frankish Kingdom's lack of historical and cultural heritage.
He reacted quickly and said with a smile: "Our current etiquette not only includes the etiquette inherited from ancient times, but also borrows some from ours."
I think it’s an excellent papal etiquette.”
“No wonder there were so many churches in the Frankish kingdom”: